Paralympic Track and Field Athletes Named for London
Of the 28 of the athletes who will make their Paralympic Games debuts in London, several are World Record holders including Hannah Cockroft.
Meanwhile, Josie Pearson makes her Games debuts in Athletics after representing Britain in Beijing 2008 in Wheelchair Rugby
The team features a number of experienced track and field campaigners including Tracey Hinton, a double gold medallist in the T11 100m and 200m at the recent IPC Athletics European Championships, celebrates her sixth Paralympic Games.
Beijing medallists returning to the ParalympicsGB team are Shelly Woods, Hazel Robson and Libby Clegg.
Clegg has recently returned from the IPC Athletics European Championships in Holland where she won two gold medals in the T12 100m and 200m and knows she has the opportunity of a lifetime in London.
"I was so excited to medal in Beijing, but I was still very young and with a lot to learn and back then I couldn't even begin to imagine how it might feel to be selected for a home Games," said the IPC World 100m Champion who won silver four years ago.
"I've moved home and training base and changed my guide runner and coach since then but it's all coming together at the right time and I'm in the shape of my life. As a team we're also stronger and the atmosphere within the squad is so much more positive than I've ever experienced before, which really helps us perform."
UKA Head Coach Peter Eriksson said: "As you can see from our selection, we've made a lot of changes since Beijing where we finished 18th overall and that medal performance has been our benchmark for progress ever since.
"We had a hugely successful World Championships in January 2011 where we won 38 medals and finished third in the medal table. Now, in my third full year at UKA, we're starting to see the gradual transition to a much more professional squad with a fantastic team spirit as well as having competent performers. Overall the strength and depth of the squad has improved and that's a huge positive. We've seen a tremendous increase in the number of new athletes coming into the sport and in particular, those that we've been able to fast track from development through to international representation at junior and senior level, and that's evident in this team - which means we've had to make some tough decisions.
"I'm confident we can do well and but we can't underestimate the fact that every other nation will have stepped up their preparation and performance goals in this quickly evolving and fast-improving sport."
Craig Hunter, Chef de Mission of ParalympicsGB, said "Today's athletics announcement completes the line-up for ParalympicsGB for London 2012. This team has a promising balance of experience and new, up-and-coming talent and I can't wait to see how they perform in London.
"I am also delighted that we can do this - our final team announcement - today, with 50 days to go to the Opening Ceremony of London 2012. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all our partners, UK Sport for our exchequer and National Lottery funding and the Government for all their support of disability sport in the UK. We have a reputation for being a leading nation in Paralympic sport, but we would not be in this position without all their support."
Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport, the Olympics and Paralympics:
"Today marks 50 days until the start of the Paralympic Games and for many athletes the dream of competing in London 2012 has been made a reality. I wish the very best of luck to all those who have worked extremely hard to be selected and to build on the great success achieved in Beijing."
Today's announcement is the final team announcement for ParalympicsGB and completes the line-up of British athletes who will compete for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at London 2012. In total, 288 athletes have been selected, alongside a further 13 team members, including sighted goalkeepers, tandem riders and guide runners.
